According to Simon, the teen, whose name was not released, hopped the fence at the San Jose airport after running away from home. He then walked around the airport's tarmac until climbing into one of the plane's wheel wells.

The teenager spent much of the 2,400 mile flight in freezing temperatures—the flight's cruising altitude was 38,000 feet—and with limited oxygen.

"He was unconscious for the lion's share of the flight," Simon said. "Doesn't even remember the flight. It's amazing he survived that."

Authorities in Hawaii detained and questioned the teenager after finding him wandering the Maui airport tarmac without identification. After a medical examination—amazingly, he escaped injury—he was released to child protective services. He won't be charged with a crime.